IT'S the longest race of the four day Festival, but who wins the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday? Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) and The Voice Of Value take a look at the race for us.
Cheltenham 16:40 | National Hunt Chase | RUK
I like this race. A four mile contest for amateur riders in theory should be the most difficult race of the week to find a winner, but one horse jumps out at me.
Very Wood sprung a 33/1 surprise under Paul Carberry in last year's Albert Bartlett Hurdle but there was no fluke about the performance.
This season he started with a less than convincing win in a Beginners Chase at Galway, before being pulled up twice latterly in the Grade 1 Topaz Novices Chase won by Don Poli.
This told us that Very Wood is not a contender for the RSA Chase, but this is not the RSA! He recovered from these set backs to win a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Navan in convincing fashion and after the race jockey Bryan Cooper said he would make a great ride for someone in the four miler at the festival, and it would appear trainer Noel Meade agrees.
He doesn't do anything quickly, but he is a willing partner with proven course form. Top female jockey Nina Carberry takes the ride, and I feel that she can follow in the footsteps of her brother and ride Very Wood to festival glory. Currently 100/30 I see Very Wood as my bet of the day.
Best Bet – Graham Johnston
Cheltenham 16:40 – Very Wood to win (100/30 BetBright)
This one is a real slog over four miles which is an unusually long race and will test their stamina. It’s the all day session in the pub that sometimes sees off the flashy drinkers and leaves the real hardened drinkers standing at the end of the night.
With Don Poli running in the RSA Chase on Wednesday I think the coast has been left clear for Sego Success to give a good account of himself for Alan King.
He has managed to get Sam Waley Cohen booked in this amateur riders race which is a big positive for a horse who jumps well and has the form to suggest that he will be ok with this marathon trip.
If you are looking for some each way value the vibes are good about Thunder and Roses at a decent price so he might be an Irish raider to take each way.
Best Bets – The Voice Of Value
Cheltenham 16:40 – Sego Success to win (9/2 BetBright)
Cheltenham 16:40 – Thunder and Roses Each Way (16/1 BetBright)
